Solutions that don’t break the bank, reinvent the wheel or marginalize our teachers are within our grasp. We could have rigorous classes, safe and disciplined schools and treat teachers like valued colleagues rather than easily replaceable cogs, and we could do so tomorrow if we wanted. Disclaimer, this is an opinion and commentary site and should not be confused as a news site. Also know that quite often people may disagree with the opinions posted.

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Tuesday, March 17, 2015

First she is either ignorant or a liar and both should trouble us. Second WTF Florida why do you continue to elect people who are either ignorant or liars?From Politifact: During a House Education Appropriations Committee meeting March 12, chairwoman and state Rep. H. Marlene O'Toole, R-Lady Lake, put the blame solely on the cyber attack."On the testing problems, many of you may have read in the media, that the problem was not that of a vendor, the problem was not that of the test materials itself, it was the product of a cyber attack," she said.O’Toole’s claim suggested that the sole problem was the cyber attack, but that conflicted with news reports and information provided by the state Department of Education.

We sent portions of Stewart’s press release (which directly contradicted what O'Toole said) to O’Toole spokesman Joshua Blake, who said she misspoke during the committee.

"I intended to convey that a cyber-attack was reported to have played a role in those initial difficulties, but the numbers show that 87 percent have completed the test as of yesterday, and I am encouraged by that number," O'Toole said in a statement provided by Blake.

Our ruling

O’Toole said that the testing "problem was not that of a vendor, the problem was not that of the test materials itself, it was the product of a cyber attack."

Actually, a vendor update was responsible for the initial problems that kept students from logging onto the new testing system. The cyber attack was another problem that happened later in the week. O’Toole admitted she misspoke.

There is an element of truth here because the cyber attack did create problems, but it wasn’t the only culprit. We rate this claim Mostly False

Of course she said she misspoke after she was caught lying or being ignorant. How anybody in the state legislature can look at what happened and not think we have a big problem is beyond me but apparently a lot is beyond Representative O'Toole.